Board of Directors

Sir Michael
Hill.
K.N.Z.M

Founder President/Non-independent Director

Sir Michael was appointed Founder President in 2015 in recognition of his special connection with Michael Hill for over 35 years. He led the company as Executive Chairman from 1987 until December 2015.

Skills and experience

Sir Michael had 23 years of jewellery retailing experience before establishing Michael Hill in 1979 which then listed on the NZ Stock Exchange in 1987. Sir Michael’s visionary leadership has been the foundation for the company’s successful international expansion. In 2008 he was recognized as Ernst Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” and in 2011 was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and the arts.

Emma
Hill B.Com , M.B.A.

Chair/Non-independent

Emma has been a Director of Michael Hill International Limited since February 2007. She was appointed Deputy Chair in 2011 and was appointed by the Board as Executive Chair in December 2015.

Skills and experience

Emma has over 30 years experience with the company commencing on the shop floor in Whangarei, New Zealand. She held a number of management positions in the Australian company before successfully leading the expansion of the group into Canada as Retail General Manager in 2002.

Gary
Smith
B.Comm., F.C.A., F.A.I.C.D.

Independent, non-executive

Gary was appointed to the Board in November 2012.

Skills and experience

Gary has had extensive Director experience. He is Chairman of Flight Centre, one of Australia’s top 100 public companies and is a member of their Audit and Remuneration sub-committee. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Rob
Fyfe

Independent, non-executive

Rob was appointed to the Board in January 2014.

Skills and experience

Rob served as CEO of Air New Zealand between 2005 and 2012, a period that saw a resurgence in Air New Zealand to become one of the most recognised and awarded airlines in the world and one of the best performers in a tough industry.

Other directorships and offices (current and recent)

Chair of Icebreaker
Director of Antarctica New Zealand
CEO of Air New Zealand between 2005 and 2012.

Janine
Allis

Janine is the Founder and Executive Director of Retail Zoo which currently owns three brands; Boost Juice, Salsa’s Fresh Mex Grill and Cibo. The Retail Zoo network has over 500 stores in 13 countries.

Her strong retail experience was obtained by creating Boost Juice Bars and turning it into an iconic Australian brand with over 95% awareness rate in the Australian market. Drive and passion has translated into over $2 billion in global sales from inception and has earned Janine many accolades, including Telstra Businesswoman of the Year, Amex Franchisor of the Year, ARA Retailer of the Year, she was inducted into the Australian Business Women Hall of Fame as well as BRW listing Janine in the top 15 people who have changed the way we do business in the last 20 years.

Janine now shares her knowledge with others, including through her role as a “Shark”, investor and mentor on Channel Ten’s Shark Tank.